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The Nigeria Police Force has foiled an attempted attack and planned kidnapping of children in the Kasuwan Magani area of Kaduna State, rescuing 76 children and arresting three suspects.
The Force Public Relations Officer, Benjamin Hundeyin, said in a statement on Wednesday that the operation followed credible intelligence received by the Kaduna State Police Command on January 5, 2026, at about 8:00 pm.
According to Hundeyin, the intelligence indicated that suspected bandits were planning to attack and kidnap motorists conveying children through the area.
“Upon receipt of the intelligence, the Divisional Police Officer (DPO), Kasuwan Magani Division, was promptly mobilised with a team of police personnel to the area,” Hundeyin said.
He said the police team engaged the suspects on arrival and successfully repelled the attack, leading to the rescue of 76 children, made up of both males and females aged between seven and 20 years.
Hundeyin said all the rescued children were unharmed.
He added that three suspects were arrested during the operation. They were identified as Jonathan John, 25; Oliver Magaji, 27; and Bitrus Sawaba, 23.
“Preliminary investigations revealed that the suspects were conveying the children to different parts of the country for the purpose of child labour and other domestic work,” he said.
Hundeyin said the suspects are currently in police custody, while the rescued children are being kept safely at the command headquarters pending the arrival and proper identification of their parents or guardians.
He said investigations have commenced to determine the full circumstances surrounding the incident and to arrest other possible collaborators.
The suspects, he added, will be charged to court after investigations are concluded.
